Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Hacksaw Ridge Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 4, 2017

Hacksaw Ridge has attracted a lot of attention due to the fact that it features the story of a conscientious objector in a wartime setting, but film lovers with long memories may recall at least two other films which touched on this same plot point, if tangentially at times, but both kind of oddly featuring the same legendary actor in leading roles. Howard Hawks’ 1941 effort Sergeant York won an Academy Award for Gary Cooper, who portrayed Alvin York, an unlikely World War I hero who had in fact attempted to stay out of that fray by attempting to utilize the conscientious objector status, something that didn’t work, ultimately thrusting him into a battle where the lives of several of his comrades depended upon his willingness to engage in the fight. Fifteen years after his Oscar victory, Cooper was back again in 1956’s Friendly Persuasion , a film which charted the rather fascinating attempts by a Quaker family (kind of inherently conscientious objectors) trying to come to terms with the vagaries of the Civil War. Hacksaw Ridge’s focal character is World War II hero Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), a putative combatant who, unlike York, was in fact able to successfully claim conscientious objector status since his chosen denomination, the Seventh Day Adventists, was accepted as an “authorized” religion. Both York and Doss received the Medal of Honor, but because York was never an “official” conscientious objector, Doss has gone down in history as the first such designated veteran to receive that award.

Sergeant York’s titular character was depicted as a well meaning if flawed character who had a bit of a drinking problem. Hacksaw Ridge transfers that penchant for alcohol to Desmond’s father, Tom (Hugo Weaving), a guy obviously suffering from undiagnosed post traumatic stress disorder from his own wartime experiences in the so-called “Great War”. Tom is a boor, but like York he’s well meaning, especially when it comes to the realities of battle and what that means once it becomes apparent that his son may be going into an even “greater” war (so to speak). But Hacksaw Ridge gives Desmond a bit of (perhaps fictional) backstory by detailing a childhood scuffle with his brother Hal where Desmond comes close to killing him with the blow of a brick to Hal's head. In a probably too on the nose moment, Desmond drifts almost catatonically down the hallway of his childhood home after the skirmish to see a framed painting depicting various religious homilies, including “Thou shalt not kill,” and when his mother Bertha (Rachel Griffiths) comes to assure him that Hal will be okay, she also informs Desmond that the worst sin of all is to kill another man.

Perhaps interestingly for a perceived “war film”, despite a horrific opening montage, a stylistic gambit which some might accuse director Mel Gibson of “borrowing” from the similarly bombastic opening in Saving Private Ryan, it takes an hour or so for Hacksaw Ridge to actually get to any battle scenes. The film instead takes deliberate time in establishing the sweet character of the grown Desmond (Andrew Garfield), a man child of sorts who helps around the neighborhood church and who meets a beautiful young nurse named Dorothy Schutte (Teresa Palmer) after he saves a guy by applying a tourniquet to a badly wounded leg and gets him to the local Lynchburg hospital. That of course turns into the big romantic element of the film, with a rather quick if completely believable courtship.

When World War II starts encroaching on the seemingly safe confines of the United States, even Desmond’s Seventh Day Adventist faith can’t keep him from recognizing the need to enlist and help in the cause, something that causes Tom considerable angst. Desmond decides that being a combat medic is the best way forward, even though there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to serve that way, and indeed once he gets into basic training with Sergeant Howell (Vince Vaughn), it becomes immediately apparent that Doss’ religious proclivities, beliefs which make him completely unwilling to even touch a firearm, make him spectacularly ill prepared to be part of a fighting battalion, at least as a fighter.

Some interstitial drama ensues when Desmond is court martialed for refusing to handle a gun (after receiving a direct order to do so by his commanding officer), something that also threatens to put the kibosh on his blossoming romance with Dorothy. A rather unlikely Deus ex Machina in the form of Tom shows up, getting Desmond off this particular hook, and preparing the way for marriage and then being almost immediately mobilized overseas to fight in the Pacific theater, which is where the second half of the film finally introduces some of the most visceral battle footage seen in a modern war film, including the devasting images of Spielberg’s homage to Private Ryan.

Without spoiling some of the heroics that ultimately won Desmond the Medal of Honor, suffice it to say that the man’s actions in the face of truly horrifying conditions are nothing short of awe inspiring. Gibson may engage in a few too many stylistic bells and whistles, with lots of slow motion and the like that only makes the carnage last all the longer, but the actual behavior being depicted is absolutely astounding. There are of course some changes of heart in terms of Desmond’s former nemeses, but quite commendably the biggest emotional impact the film delivers is simply due to the simple decency of Desmond and his steadfastness when it comes to his faith and the requirements that faith presents to him. There’s little doubt that Gibson is engaging in a bit of a hagiography (a final moment as the battle winds down and Desmond is reunited with his worn Bible verges on the comical), but the underlying truth of a man being guided by a belief is undeniable and incredibly moving.

Hacksaw Ridge Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Hacksaw Ridge is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. Shot with a variety of digital cameras and finished at a 2K DI, this is a largely flawless looking transfer that offers consistently (and often pretty gruesomely) high levels of detail and fine detail. Gibson doesn't shirk from, and indeed seems to want to focus on, the horrors of wartime injuries (somewhat similarly to how he portrayed the horrific injuries suffered by Jesus in The Passion of the Christ), something that may make some more than a little squeamish. The film has a refreshing lack of severe color grading, and the palette looks natural, supporting precise looks at elements like fabrics in uniforms, strands of hair or even facial pores. There's not a ton of shadow definition in a few dark sequences, but no outright crush. I noticed one very brief moment of banding in a quick shot of a sunrise where Doss is recalling a showdown with his father (at around the ninety minute mark), but otherwise there were no egregious compression issues.

Hacksaw Ridge Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Anyone wondering what all the fuss is about with regard to Dolby Atmos tracks might want to check out the audio on Hacksaw Ridge, for this Atmos track (with a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core) is often viscerally amazing. Some of the most prominent Atmos effects come in the battle scenes, where the punch of bullets zinging toward the listener can almost be felt (I literally had a startle reaction, ducking a little, at one such effect). The pinpoint placement of effects is consistently astounding throughout this track and develops the intensity of the fight sequences extremely well. Rupert Gregson- Williams (brother of Harry) contributes a really beautiful and often very moving string drenched score that adds to the emotional ambience of the film and which spreads through the surround channels very effectively. Even in quieter moments, there is nice placement of ambient environmental effects, and dialogue is always rendered cleanly and clearly (with the possible exception of some of the understandably chaotic battle sequences, where "dialogue" takes a back seat to the carnage being depicted).

Hacksaw Ridge Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Soul of War: Making Hacksaw Ridge (1080p; 1:09:45) is an excellent in depth piece with some great interviews, including with Doss' son. I have to say Mel Gibson is a little frightening looking, especially in some of his interviews where he sports a scraggly beard and unkempt hair that make him look like he's auditioning for a film about Ted Kaczynski.


• Veterans Day Greeting with Mel Gibson (1080p; 1:02) offers a still hirsute Gibson ostensibly talking up the heroism of vets, but unmistakably providing a bit of marketing for his films (with copious clips playing out over his speech).


• Deleted Scenes (1080p; 4:32)


• Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 2:33)

Hacksaw Ridge Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As the son of one of the "Greatest Generation", I grew up being regaled with various stories of the heroism of various guys (in fact one of the men under my Dad's command in World War II went on to win the Medal of Honor himself). But like many, even some associated with this film (as evidenced by the making of documentary included on the Blu-ray) I had never heard much about Desmond Doss. Part of that lack of renown is due to Doss himself, who for years refused to sell his "life rights" to Hollywood. Thankfully, this is one "based on a true story" film that manages to stick very close to the almost unbelievable facts while also offering a dramatically cogent and ultimately incredibly moving story. A few of Gibson's stylistic quirks didn't sit particularly well with me personally, but others may not find them problematic in the slightest. Technical merits are first rate, and Hacksaw Ridge comes Highly recommended.